England face Albania in final World Cup qualifier

England return to action on Sunday as they travel to Tirana to face Albania in their final Group K qualifier for the 2026 FIFA World Cup.

The match, which kicks off at 5pm GMT, marks the conclusion of what has been a near-faultless campaign for Thomas Tuchel’s side — and an opportunity to finish with a perfect record.

England have already sealed their place at next year’s World Cup, topping the group with maximum points and not conceding a single goal throughout qualifying. But despite qualification already secured, the England camp insist there will be no drop in intensity, with Tuchel calling the game “another important step in our preparation” for the tournament.

Albania, meanwhile, approach the match with everything still to play for. Sitting second in the group, the hosts remain firmly in the race to secure their place at the World Cup and are expected to lean heavily on a passionate home crowd inside the Arena Kombëtare. For them, a result against England would not only strengthen their qualifying hopes but also represent a significant milestone against a side they have never beaten.

Tuchel is expected to make several changes to the starting XI, with the match providing an ideal chance to rotate the squad and hand opportunities to emerging talent. England will be without defender Marc Guéhi, who withdrew from the squad earlier this week after suffering an ankle injury in training.

Despite potential rotation, England’s defensive record remains a key talking point. The Three Lions have yet to concede a goal in the entire qualifying campaign — a statistic the coaching staff and players are determined to maintain. A clean sheet on Sunday would further underline England’s defensive credentials heading into next summer’s tournament.

Albania, however, will likely push hard to disrupt that record. With the stakes high and a home crowd behind them, the hosts are expected to adopt a more aggressive approach as they seek a historic result against one of Europe’s strongest sides.

For England, the match is more than a formality. It is a final opportunity to reinforce momentum, refine tactical ideas and strengthen the identity Tuchel has been shaping since taking charge.

The eyes of Europe will be on Tirana on Sunday evening. For Albania, it may be a defining moment. For England, it’s the chance to finish their qualifying campaign — perfectly.

The match kicks off at 5pm GMT on Sunday 16 November. Viewers in the UK can watch the game live on ITV1 and STV, with streaming available via ITVX and STV Player.